Vice President of Quality

CellFor is the world’s first commercial-scale supplier of high yielding, varietal seedlings for reforestation. CellFor has extended decades of traditional tree improvement work to produce fast-growing trees having highly desirable characteristics. The company uses a proven and patented propagation technology based on high volume, tissue culture techniques. No genetic engineering is used in the production of CellFor seed and seedlings. But there's another important benefit to CellFor's technology. By improving the productivity of forestry farming, we help produce more and better wood from less land. Forest stewardship is a core value at CellFor. We believe our technology will help protect our natural forests for generations to come.

Our company is recognized as socially conscious and environmentally responsible.

Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Operations, the Vice President of Quality is a newly created position and holds overall responsibility for ensuring all products manufactured or produced within our facility are of the highest quality.  The VP of Quality oversees all aspects of CellFor’s quality functions.  Develops, communicates, and executes CellFor’s quality strategy and programs, including quality assurance, quality control, and total quality management throughout the organization.  The VP of Quality will be responsible for promoting recognition of company quality programs among customers, shareholders and internal business partners in conjunction with corporate objectives. This position will be based out of Victoria B.C., Canada. For more information about our company, please visit our website at www.cellfor.com

The Person:

·  Strong executive presence, with the ability to lead and influence constituencies across internal departments and external customers and suppliers.

·  Unquestioned integrity, confident, self-aware, excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

·  A change agent with the ability to thrive and provide leadership and structure in a challenging, fast pace ever evolving business environment.

·  Team player and team builder with ability to effectively relate the quality function to the business as a whole.

·  Proactive high-energy individual with a hands-on approach to problem solving and a passion for speed.

·  A strong customer mindset, with a passion for serving customer needs.

·  Enjoys travel and building robust quality systems and organizations at multi-site locations

 

Requirements:

·  Minimum 15 to 20 years experience in a Quality Assurance Leadership position.

·  A science or engineering undergraduate degree in biology or chemistry preferred.

·  An advanced technical or business degree would be a significant plus.

·  GMP Experience with sterile biological operations and aseptic filling processes.

·  Demonstrated ability to build and manage multi-functional and multi-site organizations.

·  Proven expertise in the design and implementation of quality processes and systems in a world-class manufacturing organization. (Relevant processes include sterile bioprocessing, API production, injectables, and biologics production).

·  Track record of success with excellent strategic, analytical, and implementation skills. 

·  Prior experience developing and implementing chemical, biological, microbial process test methods and procedures.  

·  Experience with ISO, GMP systems and/or other quality systems.

·  Proven experience developing an organizational culture that promotes and sustains quality as an element of superior business performance.

·  Will have led the implementation of a total quality initiative and understand the dynamics of creating lasting organizational change.

 

Principal Accountabilities:

 

·  Responsible for world-wide quality assurance for multiple manufacturing processes at numerous production sites.

·  Provide leadership and strategic direction to the quality function and develop appropriate infrastructure and resources required to achieve business objectives

·  Ensure proper over sight of the Quality Production Processes, including embryo, germinant, plug, and finished seedling production.

·  Actively participate as a key member of the Leadership Team of Cellfor, lending guidance and counsel on overall business and strategy direction.

·  Responsible for all quality assurance systems, implementation of corporate policies and development of plant policies and controls for the assigned areas of responsibility..

·  Ensure the alignment of internal processes and metrics to create highest product quality and competitive advantage.

·  Build strong relationships with major suppliers and contractors – building, enhancing and ensuring quality awareness.

·  Collaborate with R&D, Development and Production and Sales to ensure GMP compliance and maintain quality standards.

·  Build an organization to define Quality objectives and drive accountabilities throughout the company. Develop and monitor appropriate metrics to track quality and process improvements.